Kats marking a Fab night to remember

The Lankykats Charity Music Collective have lined up five rock and roll bands to mark five decades since The Fab Four’s visit to The ABC Ritz Cinema in Wigan in October 1964

The bands will turn up the volume at Standish Unity Club Live Lounge in Cross Street, Standish, on Thursday October 2.

Bill Hart of Lankyats has fond memories of that famous night 50 years ago – October 13, 1964 – and of how he almost missed out on getting in!

“All my mates had got their tickets before me and I suppose was a little bit slow on the uptake.

“I luckily got three tickets for the second show starting at 8:35pm; after the first show had at 6:20pm.

“Together with my sister Elaine, aged 9, and her mate Maureen, 10, and myself as ‘big brother’ at 17, we made our way down Station Road where fans from the first show were spilling out.”

“As kids we had never felt this kind of buzz and exhilaration before.

“We thought though we’d arrived on another planet!

“Next thing we were inside and making our way up the stairs to find our seats.

“We were on the back row of the ‘Gods’.

“The stage from this vantage point was positively tiny and when the curtain rose and the first act took the stage we didn’t quite know what to make of it.

“However, we soon got in the swing and and had a great time.

We came away truly grateful that we had made it see the ‘Boys’ in the flesh before they went on to conquer America and eventually dominate the world of rock ‘n roll.”

That was The Beatles’ only ever visit to Wigan and was the fourth date of their ‘Star Scene’ 1964 British tour.

The Mop-Tops played two half hour sets of ten songs: Twist And Shout, Money (That’s What I Want), Can’t Buy Me Love, Things We Said Today, I’m Happy Just To Dance With You, I Should Have Known Better, If I Fell, I Wanna Be Your Man, A Hard Day’s Night and Long Tall Sally.

Admission to the event on October 2 is £2 on the door and the music will start at 8pm prompt.

For more information on the Lankykats go to www.lankykats.com/